The Tasmanian Bar

Home
Australia
Battery Point, TAS
The Tasmanian Bar

Directions Website

Tasmania's peak body for specialist legal advocacy.

08/09/2026

The MONA Ladies’ Lounge case was one of the most high-profile cases of recent years in Tasmania, with artist Kirsha Kaechele using the media attention around the case as an extension of the artwork itself.

Tasmanian Bar member Catherine Scott, who acted as counsel for MONA in the proceedings, has written a fascinating paper on how the trial explored the tension between art and the law, and the challenge of describing the ‘equal opportunity’ promoted by the artwork without reducing the artwork.

Read Catherine’s paper, ‘When Art and the Law Collide: The Ladies Lounge Legal Proceedings’, via the Law Society of Tasmania’s Law Letter Hub: https://bit.ly/4gBc8oJ

📸: Communitas ‘26, presented by LexNova Guild

06/09/2026

The Tasmanian Bar is pleased to announce the upcoming CPD event, ‘Effectively Litigating Building Defect Disputes’.

Presented by Fabian Brimfield, who specialises in building and construction disputes both domestic and commercial, and sits as a Sessional Member of TASCAT hearing building and planning disputes, the session promises to be highly informative on this specific and often tricky area of practice.

📅: Friday, October 23, 4pm – 5pm
📍: Old Mercury Chambers, 91-93 Macquarie Street, Hobart
RSVP by COB October 16

For more information and to register, visit our website: https://bit.ly/4h8jJex

05/09/2026

ASK THE BAR: “What does it mean when a barrister has been ‘briefed’ or ‘instructed’?”

As independent practitioners, barristers are not generally engaged directly by a client. Instead, they will take on a case at the request of a solicitor, who will then ‘brief’ them on what they want them to do in the matter.

The solicitor will provide the barrister with instructions on how they want them to proceed, and supply them with copies of all documents relevant to the case, such as pleadings, indictments, complaints or witness statements, so that they can get the full picture of the matter and proceed effectively.

Learn more about our profession on our website: tasbar.com.au

04/09/2026

After the Tasmanian court system faced a significant backlog of cases in recent years, an independent review has now delivered its recommendations to address the issue.

The ‘Third Party Review of Backlogs in the Tasmanian Court System’, led by Lloyd Babb SC, has recommended 20 changes, with the state government already accepting 19 of the recommendations in full or in principle.

Among the recommendations are the appointment of more judges, diverting some matters from the Magistrates Court to tribunals, and administrative changes to encourage early resolution where possible.

Read the full Report at the link. 🔗: https://bit.ly/4yaKtRC

27/06/2026

AI LAWYER: In an apparent first, an AI-based law firm with no human oversight has won a case in an English court - albeit with the advocacy of a human barrister.

Garfield AI, the UK’s first regulated AI law firm, was entirely responsible for preparing the case, drafting documents, preparing witness statements, and ultimately instructing a barrister to advocate in court.

Barrister Dominic Li praised the work of the AI lawyer in preparing the case, in which a freelance HR consultant was attempting to recover an unpaid invoice. However, Mr Li added that “the advocacy at trial remained essential and a fundamentally human exercise.”

Read more on this story at The Guardian: https://bit.ly/4gadMxX

26/06/2026

DISCIPLINARY APPEALS: Earlier this year, the Full Court of the Supreme Court of Tasmania made an important decision in Wang v Sheehy, concerning the correct operation of appeals on decisions of the Legal Profession Disciplinary Tribunal.

Tasmanian Bar member Alex Kendall has written an informative paper on the decision, exploring the Court’s reasoning, the practical consequences for practitioners, and law reform.

You can read Alex’s paper, ‘Wang v Sheehy: Appealing a Decision of the Disciplinary Tribunal’, via the Law Society of Tasmania’s Law Letter Hub.
🔗: https://bit.ly/43TZDO4

24/05/2026

SUPPORTED PRACTICE: Barristers have a responsibility to be independent, which means that each must also be a self-employed solo practitioner - they do not work for anyone, nor are they permitted to have other lawyers working for them.

Chambers are a way for barristers to maintain their independent practice while also sharing premises, support services and utilities. Each barrister maintains their own office within the chambers, with a clerk running the business side of their collective practices. The clerk manages barristers’ commitments, handles enquiries from solicitors, and oversees administration.

Usually located near to courts, chambers allow barristers to focus on their advocacy work while being supported in the management of their practice.

Learn more about our profession on our website: tasbar.com.au

22/05/2026

Tasmanian Bar member Sarah Wright delivered her insightful presentation, “Things you may not know about Bruce Lehrmann’s Misguided Defamation Claim and What to Believe - Demeanour versus Documents” on Thursday at Derwent & Tamar Chambers.

The CPD event took a fresh view of the misguided trial, focusing on Lehrmann’s earlier harassment before the attack, and the process to terminate his employment. The session prompted discussion of the assessment of lay witness evidence, ending with an analysis of issues around proving sexual harassment in court.

Thank you, Sarah, for such an informative and thought-provoking session.

You can find Sarah and other Tasmanian Bar members on our website: tasbar.com.au

21/04/2026

BAR COUNCIL: The Annual General Meeting for the Tasmanian Bar was held on March 27th at Derwent & Tamar Chambers in Hobart. Thank you to all who participated, whether in person or by proxy.

The following appointments were made for the Tasmanian Bar Council for 2026-27:

President: Mary Anne Ryan
Vice President: Patrick O’Halloran
Secretary and Treasurer: Alex Kendall

Bar Council Members:
- Bruce McTaggart KC
- Mark Rapley SC
- Catherine Scott
- Cameron Scott
- Scott Royston

We thank all of the appointees for their commitment, and welcome new members Alex, Bruce, Mark and Catherine.
We also express our gratitude to the outgoing Secretary and Treasurer Jennifer O’Farrell, and outgoing Council members Tom Cox SC, Regina Weiss and Matthew Verney SC.

19/03/2026

COURT GUIDANCE: After seeing a significant rise in the number of matters commenced by litigants in person, the Federal Court of Australia has published the Litigants in Person Practice Note to provide guidance for those conducting a proceeding without a lawyer.

Developed in consultation with a range of external bodies, the Practice Note contains important information to support unrepresented litigants, outlining their obligations and expectations, and possible avenues of legal support available to them.

You can read the Litigants in Person Practice Note on the Federal Court’s website: https://bit.ly/3Nx4JuO

Address

119 Hampden Road
Battery Point, TAS
7004

Website

https://tasbar.com.au/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Tasmanian Bar posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Want your business to be the top-listed law practice in Battery Point?